Culinary implement for applying spread to foodstuffs



Jan. 8, 1952 v A, AMRWO Er 2,581,745

CULINARY IMPLEMENT FOR APPLYING SPREAD TO FOOD-STUFFS Filed Nov. 24, 195o BYl ,l )yadzn' "2.

ATTORNEYS JM INVENTOR Wd [ea gga/'md Vicio? AAW/m0 Patented Jan. 8,

CULINARY IMPLEMENT FOR APPLYING SPREAD T FOODSTUFFS Victor A. Amorino, West New York, and Leo C.

' Bizzarro, Long Branch, N. J.

Application November 24, 1950, Serial No. 197,436

Claims.

'The present invention relates generally to culinary implements and more particularly to an .improved device for spreadingy a somewhat plastic condiment such vas butter, margarine or the like on foodstuffs. In its more specific afpects, the invention pertains to novel features of construction embodied in a handy new, ornamental and useful implement for buttering cornon-the-cob or other food having a substantially arcuate surface to which the spread is applied.

modern, complete place setting requires an implement of 'the character described, as it is an", article that has come to be regarded as indispensable to the gracious eating of corn-onthe-cob. Many different devices have been de- `signed to achieve some of the well-known advantages of mechanical spreaders, namely, convenience, ease in application and cleanliness;V

but it has been difficult to provide a device that performsrin the desired efficient and fool-proof manner so as to eliminate'the messy and troublesomeoperations usually associated with the conventional methods of spreading butter, margarine Aorthe like onk the kernels, and yet is adaptable to be made in large quantities by modern mass production 'methodsl This is particularly true of. implements'designed to `be made of synthetic plastic material, for example, by extruding, casting or molding, which provide an inexpensive and ornamental article which is durable and yet simple to keep clean. j As will appear in detail hereinafter, the present invention provides a simple, easily assemblable' and inexpensive structure which overcomes the objectionable features of known butter-spreading implements and, in fact, is an improvement upon devices heretofore recommended for applying butter, margarine or other 'semifsolid spread to an ear of corn.

It is an obiect of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved culinary implement. v Y It is a further object of the invention to provide animpl'ement of the vclfiaracter described hereinafter having new and novel structural features. It is a still further object to provide an implement yof the character hereinafter described which is fool-proof in operation, ornamental in appearance, and adaptable toA be made at `low cost of plastic material under modern mass production techniques.

Other'obiects will be apparent from the embodiment of the invention as set forth in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 as seen from line 2 2 of that figure;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the device, in plan, through line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is ay sectional elevation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, corresponding generally to the View shown in Fig'. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the' culinary implement comprises an elongated hollow casing or body I I made of a suitableyplastic material or the like. Body II is provided with a substantially rectangular bore I2 into which a plunger member I3 is adapted to be inserted in the manner described in greater detail hereinafter. Bore I2 is made in substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration for the purpose of receiving a charge of butter. Preferably the cross-sectional dimensions of the rectangular bore, in elevation, correspond to the dimensions and the width of a standard slice or pat of butter cut from a commercial quarter-pound stick, the width usually being about lf'e".

In the operation of the device, a chip or pat of butter, margarine or the like, cut from a standard quarter-pound stick is inserted edgewise in orifice I4 at the uppermost end of rectangular bore I2 and, thereupon, plunger member I3 is inserted in the uppermost end of said bore I2 and, by applying pressure downwardly on the plunger member, the butter slice is moved into a position with its lowermost edge ush with orificev I5 at the lowermost end of bore I2 in casing II.

Plunger member I3, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is formed to reciprocate relatively freely within bore I2, cooperating therewith for gradually forcing the butter downwardly within the bore toward the orice I5 at the open bottom thereof. One of the salient features of the present invention resides in the fact that the dimensions of orifice I5 correspond to the dimensions of the bore I2, in cross-section, thereby providing an open bottom in the device. The advantages of this construction will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter. Base I6 of body II is arcuately formed ina concave manner so as to conform to a convex, arcuate surface of the substantially cylindrical shape kof an vear of corn. At each side of base i6, .bear-A ing elements II and I8 are disposed in such a manner that they serve as bearing devices as the implement is moved along the longitudinal axis of an ear of corn. Flanges I9 and EI! are provided at the upper end of casing I I adjacent the orifice I 4 at the top thereof. The flanges provide meansforf grasping andholdingthe casing firmlynnthe hand, usually between thethumb; and second finger of the hand of the user, or,

alternatively, as shoulders against which the,

thumb and second finger bear if the casing is grasped intermediate the ends tl'lereof.`

As may be seen by referring to the illustrative embodiment in Fig. 2, the bearing elementsv I1. and I8 may be formed vof plastic or thelike and may either be formed integrally with the casing or secured by adhesive or similar means to theV front and rear walls, respectively, of casing II, As illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2, the bearing ele ments, IJ and I8., extend `transversely of casing II adjacent the orice l5, at. the, bottom edge tljiilereo f,v and4 constitute widened surfaces for bearingl onthefear of-cornso as to-providesmooth vice; permit the, implement to slide more easily as it is moved along the length o f the ear-inY contactiwiththe kernels' of; corn, Icy-presenting this beari-ngf:L surface; to any irregular-ities` present; o n thetsurfacer of the,V ear and causing; thev device topride smoothly over the kernel and thereby eect= more even distribution of'thebutter, or spread', over the surface ofthe ear ofV corn-. 4

In= addition, because of the presence of-bearfing` elements I'Iandv I8, the device has; a broader bottom, and it maybe placed'in an upright position" on= a supporting surface without the aid of auxiliary.-V supporting means,` and'will ,remainV in this` position ready and` available forv use, without allowing the spread to come into contact with thev supporting surface. The bearing elements; extending some distance laterally of the body II, alsopreVent-the body Vof the casing from coming. intov contact with the table onwhich the implement may be laidon its sideduring ameal,

thereby minimizing the possibility of picking) up dirt which would be transferred tothe fingers of a-person-using the device.

Inian implement of thetype illustrated-in the drawings, it is desirableto: provide rneans'aiding easy manipulation thereof. The presentz structure includes the aforementioned flanges I9-and 2D which provide'nger grasping-meanspermitting the device, when used, to be heldbetween thethumb and the middle anger,theribs-er1-V thebutter evenly over the'kernels: Due to thev fact lthat orice I5 is of substantially the same dimensions as thecross-section of boren I2, a greater" area of contact between the buttern and the eark of corn is 'made' possible.'Y Moreover,- the pressure to overcome the frictional resistance between the butter and the inside walls of bore I 2, which resistance also prevents the butter from falling out through the open bottom (of its own weight) when the implement is held in an upright position with orifice I5 lowermost.

Thefhandlefw 0f plunger;v or. raiz;j IMS provided. with shoulder portions 25jafnd 26 at the outboard sides thereof, which shoulder portions cooperate with the upper edges 2'I and 28, respectively, of casing I I and serve as stops to prevent movementof the plunger I3, as a whole.

"open,bottor'n` feature enables'the user ofthe beyond'the end of the ram stroke, the length of the strokebeingk equal to the length of bore I2. Theendofplunger I3 is arcuately formed in the same manner as the base of the casing II so as to conform substantially to the curvature of the sides adjacent orifice I 5. This permits most efflcient use of the butter contained within the bore l2` inasnuiszh` as. thecplunaer, completely. mls, the borefmmorice Mtoorice I5..

The bore |27, inthe embodiment ofi thesinven: bien. shown inrEissl; to ahas eendescribedhaving.. a smooth interna1;,si1.rface. An-,alternav tive embodiment', however, islillustrated in 4 and 5,' wherein,thecooperatins snrfacesoithe plunger body I 3a, andy balie I 21x arlformed vwith lands and grooves or cor.nplementary` cornisa: tions 29 and 307 respectively. These., lands and grooves provide meanspreventingWobbleor lateral-Dlay of the pluiflser` assitslideswithinbnre I 2a and, in additiom they aidin, retention .011y the butter charge within .the cylinder more. Eigsgi; and 5 show in cross-section,thaplunaer andreas? ing. structure-- 0f this proposed, mo clinicat'orr,and

reveal. in detail,` thef BiennaliV of! coeperatiom be: tweenthegroeved surfaces.

The size of thehore isrpreferahlyF off a; chars acter, that' willretaintheconventional:patpfgbute ter. However, if. the embodimentshowninEigs-s 4 and Y 5` is used, it, is Vclear thatthere canbesilbf stantial variations. in,r the dimensions, of the pat of butteninasmuchvas thebo re Iv2ais adapted to receive smaller or largercubes, the limit ,.of,large1': dimensions. being'. determined, by, thesdstancexbef: tween thegrooves in the. opposite,wallsA of; bore I2a and the, limit of; smaller, dimensions,r being determined; by .thedistanca betweenathedandaon opposite wallsfof bore-12a.

When either of the illustrated,deyices,is,tobe used, the plunge-1w;isf1de rntovedffrom.v the` here. a pre-formed patof` butter orf-spread isfV inserted in .the bore `and. the plunger, is, s1id into the in` contact withy ther-upper,u edge.,X ot the, patiof butter and'is pushed downwardlyuntil ther-butter begi1-1fGQA barely emersen from the open-bottom of thebore-provided, casing. Asabovezdescri-bed,

the implement-f may# be;v graspedbetween; theface of the cylindrical ear, therebyfeliminating" waste of `the butter,` permitting.: the aforementioned'mosteicient use'othe charge contained and' providing a,v sanitaryvandV practical?devieerY As will be apparent from study. of.fther-structure of the device, as illustrated, it is adapted to be formed by conventional methods of manufacturer from any one of a variety of available materials. The casing element may be made of transparent synthetic plastic, for example by extruding the main body portion and ailixing thereto the rib and bearing elements. The plunger can be made in a similar manner by forming the ram portion and aiiixing thereto the shoulder stop portion. It is clear that the plunger and casing could also be cast or molded as single units, if desired, depending upon the materials used and the equipment available.

It is contemplated that the device may be provided with ornamentation on surfaces 3| and 32 with intaglio or relief design and if desired the plunger head may be provided with an ornamental handle, a figure or the like. Alternatively, ornamentation may be embedded in the transparent plastic members to enhance the attractiveness of the article. Various other modifcations may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is intended, therefore, that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims. Whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

We claim:

1. A corn buttering implement comprising: a vertically elongated butter-receiving casing of rectangular cross-section having a concave bottom adapted to conform generally to the transverse curvature of the surface of an ear of corn and provided with an open-ended bore of substantially rectangular cross-section; flange-like rib elements at the top of said casing adapted to be grasped between the ngers of the user; widened surfaces for bearing on said ear of corn, said widened surfaces extending transversely of said casing adjacent the bottom edge thereof and concavely arched to conform substantially to the curvature of said bottom to provide smooth operation of the implement as it passes over the kernels of the ear of com; and a plunger for said bore having shoulder stops at the top of said plunger.

2. A corn buttering implement comprising: a vertically elongated butter-receiving casing of rectangular cross-section having a concave bottom adapted to conform generally to the transverse curvature of the surface of an ear of corn and provided with an open-ended bore of substantially rectangular cross-section; flange-like rib elements at the top of said casing adapted to be grasped between the fingers of the user; widened surfaces for bearing on said ear of corn, said widened surfaces extending transversely of said casing adjacent the bottom edge thereof and concavely arched to conform substantially to the curvature of said bottom to provide smooth operation of the implement as it passes over the kernels of the ear of corn; and a plunger for said bore having shoulder stops at the top of said plunger, said plunger being of substantially the same length as said bore.

3. A corn buttering implement comprising: a vertically elongated butter-receiving casing of rectangular cross-section having a concave bottom adapted to conform generally to the transverse curvature of the surface of an ear 4of corn and provided with an open-ended bore of substantially rectangular cross-section; 'iiange-like rib elements at the top of said casing adapted to be grasped between the fingers of the user; widened surfaces for bearing on said ear of corn, said widened surfaces extending transversely of said casing adjacent the bottom edge thereof and concavely arched to conform substantially to the curvature of said bottom to provide smooth operation of the implement as it passes over the kernels of the ear of corn; and a plunger for said bore having shoulder stops at the top of said plunger, said plunger being of substantially the same length as said bore and having the bottom end of said plunger concavely arched to conform substantially to the curvature vof said widened surfaces.

4. A corn buttering implement comprising: a vertically elongated, rectangular casing having a rectangular bore of substantially uniform crosssection throughout its length and having a substantially rectangular. concave open bottom at the discharge end of said bore adapted to conform generally to the transverse curvature of the surface of an ear of corn; widened surfaces for bearing on the surface of said ear of corn extending transversely of said casing adjacent opposite sides of said bottom, said widened surfaces beingv concavely arched to conform substantially to the curvature of said bottom to provide smooth operation of the implement as it passes over the kernels of the ear of corn; and a plunger for said bore, said plunger having shoulder stops at the top of said plunger.

5. A corn buttering implement as set forth in claim l wherein said bore is grooved along its longitudinal axis and Said plunger is grooved on the surface thereof and cooperates with the grooves in said bore during passage of the plunger through said bore.

VICTOR A. AMORINO. LEO C. BIZZARRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 408,833 Faul Aug. 13, 1889 461,559 Woolridge Oct. 20, 1891 622,048 Hunsinger Mar. 28, 1899 956,929 Bradbury May 3, 1910 1,017,957 `Clark Feb. 20, 1912 1,213,655 Keil Jan. 23, 1917 1,335,998 St. Onge Apr. 6, 1920 1,538,575 Mosman May 19, 1925 1,603,694 Hill Oct. 19, 1926 1,782,911 Scrimgeour Nov. 25, 1930 1,887,450 Casey Nov. 8, 1932 1,893,889 Guerini Jan. 10, 1933 2,370,925 Wade Mar. 6, 1945 2,458,120 Volpini Jan. 4, 1949 2,478,122 Mossel Aug. 2, 1949 2,527,149 Peterson Oct. 24, 1950 

